MAURICE Ross's Wolves future will be sorted out this week with the defender hoping to stay at Molineux beyond the end of his loan spell.

Ross has been a consistent performer since breaking into the team in recent weeks but it remains "in the balance" as to whether he can thrash out a deal with Wolves within the constraints of the club's January transfer budget.

"We are waiting to speak to Wolves this week and I wouldn't like to say which way it will go," said Ross's agent Mark Donaghy. "There are other clubs and it's in the balance."

Ross's loan spell from Sheffield Wednesday expires on Wednesday, but with no desire to return to Hillsborough he remains hopeful of staying a Wolves player and being in the frame for Sunday's big FA Cup tie with Manchester United.

But the defender admits that should he stay it's not games like United which are the most important.

"The Manchester United game looks after itself," said Ross, who has previously taken on the Red Devils for Rangers in the Champions League.

"It's a glamour game and gets all the media coverage but for Wolves it's not that important in the bigger picture.

"The big games for us are the likes of Leicester and Preston, because these are the league games we have got to win."

Ross, meanwhile, admitted he understood the reasons for his 60thminute substitution during Saturday's 0-0 draw at Millwall.

"To be fair normally when I'm subbed I hate it but I could see where the gaffer was coming from when he reverted to four at the back," he said.

"There was no point switching me over to left-back and leaving Nayls (Lee Naylor) on the bench.

"If I'm being honest a draw was probably a fair result and I can't understand Millwall's league position from the way they played against us.

"Yes, they battled but they showed a decent level as well and they've got some good players.

"Coming away from home the minimum you're looking for is a draw but if we want to push on we need to start winning games like this."